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| − | '''''Polypodium glycyrrhiza''''', commonly known as '''licorice fern''', '''many-footed fern''', and '''sweet root''', is a summer [[deciduous]] [[fern]] native to western [[North America]], primarily in a narrow strip in southern [[Alaska]], southwestern [[Yukon Territory]], western [[British Columbia]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]], though two highly disjunct populations are known from [[Idaho]] and [[Arizona]]. It thrives in a humid climate, prevailing in areas with cool and moist summers and warm and wet winters. ''P. glycyrrhiza'' can often be found growing on the trunks and branches of winter deciduous trees, particularly [[bigleaf maple]], but is also often found on rocks, logs, and wet, mossy [[humus]]. It takes advantage of the mild, wet winters and the substrate of deciduous trees to photosynthesize and grow during the cold season when most other temperate plants are dormant. Habitat elevation is lowlands below 600 meters.<ref>http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?85,86,89</ref> | + | '''''Polypodium glycyrrhiza''''', commonly known as '''licorice fern''', '''many-footed fern''', and '''sweet root''' |
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| − | Licorice fern acquires its name from its licorice-flavored [[rhizome]], which was chewed for flavor by numerous [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] groups, including the [[Squamish (people)|Squamish]], [[Shishalh]], [[Comox people|Comox]], [[Nuxalk people|Nuxalk]], [[Haida people|Haida]], and [[Kwakwaka'wakw]]. The rhizomes were also usually used medicinally as a treatment for the [[common cold|cold]] and [[sore throat]]s.<ref>{{cite book | last = Pojar | first = Jim | title = Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast | publisher = Lone Pine Publishing | location = Edmonton | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-1-55105-530-5}}</ref>
| + | [[Category:Ferns]] |
| − | | + | [[Category:Plants for Keenan to eat]] |
| − | Spores are located in rounded [[sorus|sori]] on the undersides of the fronds, and are released in cool weather and high humidity.
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| − | This species is a [[diploid]], and is one parent of several species of hybrid origin:
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| − | *''[[Polypodium vulgare]]'' (with ''[[Polypodium sibiricum]]'')
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| − | *''[[Polypodium hesperium]]'' (with ''[[Polypodium amorphum]]'')
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| − | *''[[Polypodium calirhiza]]'' (with ''[[Polypodium californicum]]'')
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| − | == Description ==
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| − | Licorice fern does not grow its fronds from a centralized location; this is contrast to other ferns that grow their fronds from the same spot. The name ''Polypodium'' refers to this characteristic—it means "many-footed." The fronds are once-divided and triangular in shape, with finely toothed margins and pointed leaflets. They are usually at least one foot in length, but may grow to be over two feet long. They also display [[parallel venation]]. The rhizome is creeping and the fronds appear to have random placement, originating at various points. The rhizome appears reddish-brown, and is a sweet licorice-flavored. The name ''glycyrrhiza'' refers to this flavor--''glykys'' in Greek means sweet, with ''rhiza'' meaning root.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npsbc.ca/pdf/Polypodium_glycyrrhiza.pdf|title=Polypodium glycyrrhiza|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> Since it is a fern, ''P. glycyrrhiza'' reproduces by spores; the spores grow in a pattern of spots on the undersides of the leaves. These sori may be oval in immaturity. Licorice fern may grow over the ground, rocks, or as an [[epiphyte]]. The plant prefers moist environments, so it is typically found on wet ground, rocks, and logs. Occasionally it can be seen on fallen trees.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/licorice-fern-bullnbsppolypodium-glycyrrhiza.html|title=Licorice fern • Polypodium glycyrrhiza|website=Biodiversity of the Central Coast|access-date=2017-04-17}}</ref> It is very often associated with [[Acer macrophyllum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/polypodium_glycyrrhiza%5B1%5D.htm|title=Plant Data Sheet|website=depts.washington.edu|access-date=2017-04-17}}</ref> The fern is [[mycorrhiza]]<nowiki/>l, meaning it can form root associations with the hyphae of fungi.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Berch|first=Shannon|date=|title=Mycorrhizal status of some plants of southwestern British Columbia|url=|journal=Canadian Journal of Botany|volume=|pages=|doi=10.1139/b88-263}}</ref>
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| − | The sweet flavor of the rhizome was once attributed to the glycoside [[glycyrrhizin]]. However, a study has shown that the flavor may actually be due to polypodoside, which is 600 times sweeter than 6% sucrose solution.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Priya|first=Keerthi|date=|title=Natural Sweeteners: A Complete Review|url=|journal=Journal of Pharmacy Research|volume=|pages=}}</ref>
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| − | ==Cultivation==
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| − | Licorice fern is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant. The [[cultivar]] 'Longicaudatum' has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Polypodium glycyrrhiza'' 'Longicaudatum'|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1504|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 80 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate = 2 May 2018}}</ref>
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| − | == Use ==
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| − | The licorice fern is sometimes valued for its licorice-flavored rhizome. Occasionally it is chewed, and it can also be brewed into a licorice-flavored tea. It may be used as a medicine for colds and respiratory conditions by indigenous peoples.<ref name=":1" /> It is considered an important medical plant and may have been used similar to cough drops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/exhibits/terrestrial-panel/licorice-fern/|title=Licorice Fern · University of Puget Sound|website=www.pugetsound.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-04-17}}</ref> Since the rhizome is so sweet even in its naturally occurring state, and since the chemical is not a saccharide, it is possible that this compound could be used as a natural alternative to traditional sweeteners.
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| − | ==Gallery==
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| − | <gallery>
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| − | File:Licoricerootcloseup.jpg|Licorice root close-up
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| − | File:E20161117-0001—Polypodium glycyrrhiza—RPBG (31112849815).jpg|Fronds with and without spores
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| − | File:USFWS polypodium glycyrrhiza (23748322431).jpg|Young frond
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| − | File:Acer macrophyllum in Hoh ValleyB.jpg|Acer forest with ''P. glycyrrhiza''
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| − | </gallery>
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{Reflist}}
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{Commonscat|Polypodium glycyrrhiza}}
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| − | *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?85,86,89 Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Polypodium glycyrrhiza'']
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| − | *[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POGL8 USDA Plants Profile: ''Polypodium glycyrrhiza'']
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| − | *[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500977 Flora of North America]
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| − | *[http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Polypodium&Species=glycyrrhiza Washington Burke Museum]
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| − | *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Polypodium+glycyrrhiza ''Polypodium glycyrrhiza'' - U.C. Photo gallery]
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| − | {{Taxonbar|from=Q3395763}}
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| − | [[Category:Polypodium|glycyrrhiza]]
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| − | [[Category:Ferns of the United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Ferns of California]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Alaska]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of British Columbia]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Idaho]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Oregon]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of Washington (state)]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of California]]
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| − | [[Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)]]
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| − | [[Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges]]
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| − | [[Category:Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area]]
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| − | [[Category:Pteridophyta of the Americas]]
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| − | [[Category:Garden plants of North America]]
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| − | [[Category:Fern species]]
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